Button it Benitez!
Oh Rafa. Not you 'n' all. With one carefully-worded four-minute statement, Benitez revealed how edgy and narked he's getting. And it's food and drink to the Glasgow Beetroot.
Mind you, Rafa should worry. The consensus in the Blue Bell is that the whole world is against the Boro. Anyone who thinks these late goals we keep conceding are anything other than an FA/Fergie conspiracy is in la-la land. OK, we have been a tad useless but let's not allow that to get in the way of some good old-fashioned paranoia.
As for Fergie, I do think he seems to slip out of the clutches of an FA fine more easily than most others. And all that guff about the Premier League fixture list - that it was somehow biased against United - was the biggest pile of hogwash he's uttered in years. It couldn't be more helpful if it bloody well tried!
You can see SAF looking down the list of fixtures for 2009-10 and bawling 'We're United! What dae ye mean wuh hav tae play everyone home AND away?'
Benitez on the other hand tried to present this as a forensic analysis of the situation. You almost fancied he might like to don a wig and parade up and down the press conference room like Rumpole of the Bailey.
But it's not the content of what Benitez says that's the problem. It's the fact that he, like the daftest trout in the pond, has risen to the Ferguson's fat maggoty bait.
Some might say the fact that he wrote it all down and read it out shows a man in control -that it wasn't an off-the-cuff blurt in the manner of them drama queens Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin 'loov it' Keegan.
(Incidentally, why do loveys do all that nonsense, eh? It's 'cos they're so busy faking it every day of their lives that when a real emotion hits them they can't deal with it unless some poor sap writes out their lines out for them. Silly moo.)
Fergie's response is exactly what you'd expect. 'Benitez is disturbed about something' is tantamount to saying 'he's a nutter'. It's up there with Mourinho's description of Wenger as a 'voyeur'.
Benitez's response - suggesting David Gill was wielding too much of an influence at the FA - hardly undermines Fergie's point. In fact, Rafa should stop now, 'cos it's starting to get worrying.
I mean we all know that Ferguson wasn't actually born here but was blasted down to Earth by invaders from the Planet Taggart, in order to reclaim major sporting honours from under the noses of the just. We know that, Rafa.
We know that Liverpool's title push in recent years has been hampered by various TV networks - operating under the influence of an intergalactic mind-ray - forcing them to play too many lunchtime matches. (SETANTA apparently stands for Scupper Every Team Around - Never Touch Alex.)
I myself have witnessed Sir Alex Ferguson levitate an entire wall of defenders with the power of his mind just so Ronaldo could fire a free-kick underneath it. But if you start spouting this stuff in public you start to look a bit foolish. So I keep my counsel.
It's unfortunate that Rafa said in his statement "I will be watching United's game with Chelsea. The result does not matter to us, if we win at Stoke that result does not matter." Oh dear. A draw at Stoke, your boys played rubbish, and suddenly it does matter.
Like I say, there's a lot of mealy-mouthed nonsense and kow-towing around Ferguson, and it hacks a hell of a lot of us off. But Rafa, his team flying high and in with a real chance of winning the gong for the first time in 18 years, is not the fella to draw our attention to it.
If he keeps it buttoned and keeps his mind on the job, Liverpool could still nick it. Because like Wenger, Benitez doesn't look or sound comfy indulging in schoolyard fisticuffs, whereas Fergie could start a scrap in a Trappist monastery.
Personally, I'd stop all this mind games malarkey, stick 'em all in a playground and the first one to get the other's parka over his head gets to go and put some thumbscrews on the assistant referees' digits.
In the meantime, might I refer you doubters to a blog I made some moments ago about the beleaguered Chelsea.
They were flippin' hopeless, and worse still spineless, in the second half on Sunday. JT and half the team go to thank the fans after the game. The other half trudge off to the dressing-room. No harmony, no unity.
The main problem is the Scolari special, the cluttered midfield - five of them, all standing closer together than a bunch of toddlers playing frisbee, so close in fact that you'd think they were lining up for that penalty shoot-out all over again.
Not one of them can go past people - hell, they couldn't trick their way past Ronaldo's Ferrari right now - a fact made even more obvious by the ancient Giggsy. As Harry Redknapp has quite rightly pointed out, there are too many fat backsides sitting on their fat reputations/wallets - and Chelsea are no different.
It's clear-out time at the Bridge: you get more interest from your average savings account than you do from Drogba these days; Hassungotta Kalou and Skiptoo Malouda can go; Deco's a dud; it's tempting to change the vowels in Ballack's name after Sunday; and why exactly were Man U and Chelsea scrapping over John Obi Mikel in the first place I wonder?
Nah, it's a two-horse race now, and neutrals will just have to hope that Rafa doesn't get drawn into any more distractions. Otherwise he can say adios - actually he's been at Liverpool five years so he can say "Ta-raaaa chuck" - to the Premier League for another season.
And Fergie'll be bouncing up and down like a nine-year-old yet again. Sigh. I know I tipped them but it doesn't bear thinking about, does it?
I'm left with one forlorn hope. Up the Villa!
.
I'm Derek Robson. People call me Robbo. Legend has it I was raised in the furnace and smog of Teesside. Some might say I took the hard road. I like to tell folk I had trials for Middlesbrough, for Hartlepool and for burglary (not guilty). I've always loved sport. My job is to say it as I see it - whether it's in the bar of the Blue Bell or on this blog. You won't find me calling a spade a soil-redistribution implement.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~42~RS~)
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This blog was kind of hidden away wasnt it. Funny nonetheless.
I actually think Benitez has lost the plot, spouting facts that have all been proven inaccurate. If he had spent his week preparing for Stoke, rather than noting down nonsense on a sheet of A4, there may have been a better performance from his side.
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Fantastic blog yet again Robbo.
I loved the S.E.T.A.N.T.A anagram, absolutely brilliant.
The title is Man u's to lose now in my opinion.
5 points off the lead, 2 games in hand, AT HOME, and they still have to play Arsenal and Liverpool at home in the league. I'll be surprised if they don't win a third straight title.
Keep up the good work mate.
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Good blog again Robbo, and as a Man Utd fan living in Edinburgh I can't help but think Rafa's comments just play into Fergie's hands (as we've all seen before with Keegan and Newcastle's blown title chances after his infamous "I'd love it!!" rant
Seriously when will these managers realise that Fergie thrives on the mind-games, and just to focus on getting their own teams motivated and playing well. Maybe stop leaving his two best strikers on the bench so much....Torres and Keane will come good this season yet, but I'm afraid the league is now Man Utd's to lose!
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Good Stuff again Robbo?!
Ah memories of the Good Old Mourinho quote of calling Wenger a 'Voyeur' classic stuff?!
Very amusing today
loving the "Glasgow Beetroot" - very original
also kudos on making something up for SETANTA?! - proof that you journalists have too much time on your hands?! hahaha
Keep Up the Good Work
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kevthered83 - couldnt agree with you more about Benitez losing the plot ever so slightly by spouting off facts that arent actually facts?! silly silly man played right into the hands of fergie?!
its so true that
"Fergie could start a scrap in a Trappist monastery."
the man could start a war of words with anything, but fair play to him as a few subtle words end up playing right into his hands?!
Wenger, Benitez just don't like indulging in rough and tumble world of Fergies Schoolyard Fisticuffs antics?! best for them to just stay away and keep quite playing marbles in the corner of the yard or playing chess in the library
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Yeh i didnt spot this blog yesterday when it says it was posted. Whats goin on BBC? The best blog on their site and they do not advertise or promote it whatsoever untill a day later.
Anyway Robbo another very interesting blog mate. As for all this mind games nonsense, i love it, its so childish and pathetic to see these grown men saying the equivelant of 'My dads bigger than your dad', that you just have to laugh. It wouldnt be a title race without it realy.
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Well Done, you managed to mention Stoke without mentioning Delap - That must be a first for you!
I do enjoy your article to be fair and this one was no exception!
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your right robbo - up the villa!
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"... blasted down to Earth from the Planet Taggart..." - probably your best ever line. Well done.
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Even funnier than normal, top stuff.
Personally think that the 'Pool will crumble - they rely too much on Gerrard and Torres, Big Phil will findthe answer to getting his pampered pets playing, and they become the main challenge to Man U.
But to us that support teams in the murkier depths of the Football league (up the Barnet) , its all one big bouffanted soap opera anyway - about as close to real football as Big Bruvver is to Universally Challenged.
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1&6: Afternoon chaps - just doing a spot of moonlighting. The time on the blog is when it was created in draft mode but it wasn't actually published until today, for reasons too tedious to go into.
Agree with you, BCChris, Robbo is the king of the bloggers on this site in my opinion - long may he reign! The old fella's out at the minute - but will be back for a bit of banter around four.
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I'm ma fan of your articles and that was one of my favouites, so cheers Robbo.
I agree with most of you sentiments there, and a nice pick up about the Chelsea dressing room split.
I think it was a mistake on Rafa's part, he should of learnt from Mourinho the best way to deal with fergie is is either ignore him or praise him, rather than going down to "schoolyard fisticuffs" as you aptly put it.
Speaking of boro and conspiracy theories. did you hear about the one when boro got to the 1997 fa cup final, and there were a couple of rumours flying about that the only reason they got there was so boro fan David Shayler, a ex mi5 spy who leaked national secrets, would turn up and then the government could promptly arrest him!
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that picture of scolari, is that how he picks his team? or is that how he coaches them to defend corners/crosses etc? I cant decide
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People talk like Benetez has only just lost it. Truth is he lost it a long time before his rant at the great one. He had a great chance to put some distance between his boys and United and Chelsea. What does he do? Pick a team not to lose but not to win either. Probably thought they could grab a 1 - 0 but with Kuyte up front and Torres and Keane on the bench there was little chance of that. Benetez have a look at yourself and pick a team for your fans. You are going to lose the title, at least make a fist of it and leave the battle of wits to SAF. Remember you are only half prepared for the battle.
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Mourinho to return to the bridge this summer.
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'But it's not the content of what Benitez says that's the problem.'
I beg to differ. Slightly.
It is because most of what he said was utter hogwash. There was an article written for the Telegraph online which explained it, have a look. And it was written by someone who hates Fergie.
The reason that this is a very important point is that if Rafa actually believes what he said 100% then it shows he indeed is 'disturbed' and should make Fergie even happier.
Anyway it's all far from over and there won't be any easy wins against Wigan or Bolton this week for United. However if Rafa keeps up with his ranfest and starts blaming The Man From Del Monte next the the title will definitely be coming back to Old Trafford.
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I don't think that Benitez has completely blown it yet. There is still a long way to go until the end of the season and Liverpool are in the best position to maintain a title challenge than they have been in a long time.
Unless the Villa manage to do the unthinkable and win (unlikely, I grant you) then I would like to Liverpool win, would make a change from Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea dominating things.
Up the Villa!
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UNITED!!!http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lLOnaa1d_f8
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Is it a playground scuffle or handbags at dawn?
Anyway hopefully Rafa has been warned and this is his mind game doing a double double bluff to get one up on the beetrooted one. This could and should run on till the end of the season.
Oh Joy
Villa for the Premiership title is even funnier than Rafa's rant!!!
Keep it up Robbo, makes the worst days bearable
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This was a most boring read ever even after skipping most of the parts...it's worrying bbc is allowing such nonsense. Now we know who you support. ; - >
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Never have I had the need to disagree with the wondrous Robbo....my all time fave.
However, I must object to all this turning on Rafa.... he has had the temerity and indeed balls to speak up about Ferguson.
He has a right to his opinion and I like the way Alan Hansen called it a "measured" statement rather than a rant. Robbo, Rafa has had to handle wicked stuff from the owners...he has not had a coronation like Ferguson.
Let the man speak! We can ALL learn from this - he stands up for Liverpool, now the players have to just bloody well stand up for him and the fans, like moi!
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Great blog Robbo, I for one think Sir Alex can and does walk on water ( wi a malt chaser ).
Rafa has indeed taken the bait and if he doesn't button it , will forget what he's being
paid for and his team need all the help they can get after the way they played at Stoke.
If my boys can keep focused and play well against Wigan and Bolton, they will win the league with points to spare as there aren't many banana skins left in their fixture list.
Look for Giggsy cosseted for 2 weeks prior to the home matches against Liverpool , Arsenal and Villa, wasn't he great on Sunday ?!
Scholesy out of the duvet tomorrow. Luv it !!
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In what way has Benitez lost it? He knew what he was going to say and said it it a calm manner with an occasional smile.
What seems to have been missed by all those united fans who call it a 'rant' is that what he said are facts that everyone (except utd fans) know already. That includes Phil McNulty, Graham Poll and almost everyone else involved in football.
The result at Stoke was shocking and didn't help Rafa's cause, but I'm sure he couldn't give a toss what Fergie, the media or utd fans think.
His idea was to make public the long existing man utd bias. It was proved again in the Chelsea game when the ref bottled it and allowed Shrek to run half way across the pitch to scream in the linesman's face and to petulantly turn his back on the ref twice. If his name was not Rooney, but Mascherano, it would have been a red card.
Anyway, Phil, excellent blog once again. While every other Beeb reporter insists on digging up the gloomiest story to depress the nation, you have managed to bring a chuckle from one Liverpool, and Rafa, fan who is happy to see us clear at the top of the Prem and sitting pretty in the Champions League and FA Cup.
It's a long time 'till May....
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As a Villa fan, I think we are now everyone's favourite second team. Yet we know, barring a major miracle , it is beyond us.
Chelsea are still very much in it so are Arsenal. It is too early to write them off They may finish ahead of Liverpoool, I think.
All of whom will finish ahead of Villa to be realistic.
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Hassungotta Kalou! Classic! Great blog
As a Stoke fan, I'm hoping that the terrible setplay defense continues. Either that or a backlash on Saturday at the Bridge!
Not too sure if the 'mind games' are palying a massive part, if in fact at all! Surely the fact Benitez left Torres and Keane on the bench at Stoke and the team he put out played terrible accounted to them losing?!
I hope the title is a two horse race with Liverpool and United. - A good second half to the season lies in wait!
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happy red. Please tell me 1 thing in Rafa's statement that was indeed a fact?
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People should marvel at the powers of the Dark Lord as he approaches his not so frail dotage - not denigrate them.
As for the early starts United have suffered from these in the past so hardly an excuse.
There is still a long way to go and as always there will be a twist before we get to the finish line.
For United followers the real nightmare is about 2-3 years way ( Wilf McGuinness anyone).
I followed your stuff on football365, Robbo. Where's all the stuff about the drunken roadies?
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20. lets_debate: Robbo is a Middlesbrough supporter - as mentioned in the second par - he's not really a fan of any of the Big Four (like the rest of us poor saps forced to watch the lower lights week in week out).
Sorry his blog was not your cup of tea but generally it's very popular. Robbo's not a BBC journalist but l personally like to read his man-on-the-street musings. Still, be boring if we all liked the same thing!
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Brilliant Robbo. I'm still laughing at the Kalou and Malouda bit.
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Lock up Gerrard for assault, Ronaldo for dangerous driving and Rafa for generally being a nutter, and yeah, Villa have a chance!
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Rafa Benitez - master tactician, apparently wanted by Real Madrid - needs a victory against lowly Stoke to keep the title push going....starts Kuyt as lone striker. And what does he have against Ryan Babel?
Hmmmmm....
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23. At 1:56pm on 13 Jan 2009, happy_red wrote:
In what way has Benitez lost it? He knew what he was going to say and said it it a calm manner with an occasional smile.
What seems to have been missed by all those united fans who call it a 'rant' is that what he said are facts that everyone (except utd fans) know already.
-------------------------------------------------
Please read this happy_red:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/4214075/Rafael-Benitezs-outburst-made-up-of-half-truths-and-disinformation-Football.html
as stated by GazUtd in post 16, it's written by someone who seems to hate Fergie as well.
To talk about the game, i thought Chelsea weren't too bad in the 1st half, we only created a few chances but probably deserved our 1-0 half time lead. The worrying thing for them was their attitude in the 2nd half. They didn't seem like they wanted it, and never looked capable of breaking down our defense.
With regards to the fixture list, obviously it's not rigged or anything like that, but i do think it was disadvantageous. To play the 8 teams that finished directly below us last year in the 1st half of the season AND to play away after each CL game is extremely unlucky. It is to Utd's credit that despite this we are in the position we are in, and now have the easier run in. It's time to turn the screw now and go on a winning streak, and hopefully start scoring goals a bit more freely.
Rant over.
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Seems to me that its fairly obvious Rafa has been rattled by Fergies cheap shots. If he was really confident about Liverpools ability to win he would, could and probably should have just said "well, thats his opinion" or just said nothing at all. He hasn't done himself or his team any favours by doing it. Fergie's been doing this far too long and a few handbags from Rafa isnt going to upset him. The sad thing is though, that Man Utd look like the only team with enough quality in depth to win the premier league. Liverpool's quality ends with Gerrard, Carra, Torres and Mascherano. Chelsea's begins with a group of no-marks and has-beens like Kalou, Ballack, Malouda and Anelka then ends with.....erm........well, they have no real quality. Arsenal may as well not even bother. Even Villa have at least three more quality players than the gunners. Man Utd are the only team to have quality and experience in every part of the field, and I'm saying that as a fan of no premier league side. Scolari is proof, like Ramos, that if you cant speak the language you wont be able to communicate with players and therefore win anything. Should've kept the special one......
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Another great blog Robbo!
Loved the SETANTA acronym and the bit about over-emotional actresses (its why I never watch tv/film award ceremonies).
Frankly, I'm fed up with all the analysis of Benitez's comments. Also, why do people insist on calling it a rant? Check Joe Kinnear's little speech to the press...now THAT's a rant!
I applaud Rafa for saying what lots of people have been thinking for along time now, but I agree that his timing was very poor. It would have been much better to save it for the post-match press conference.
I don't think he's "lost it" at all. He's just guilty of bad timing, which put his side under unnecessary pressure and gave Man Utd all the motivation they needed to beat Chelsea.
On the subject of Chelsea, their decline is quite astonishing. If Scolari hasn't lost the dressing room, then there is certainly a major clash of personalities going on among his players. Against United, they played like a bunch of junior academy players, who were still getting to know each other.
If Big Phil doesn't sort this out in the next couple of games, I can see them looking for a new manager, come the end of the season. I bet Chelsea fans are wishing they hadn't got rid of Avram Grant now.
Finishing with the Boro, I have to disagree. Its not a FA / Man Utd conspiracy.
Its a North East conspiracy...Newcastle and Sunderland fans are coming to all our games, (not just derby matches) and shouting rude things at our defenders and the goalie, thus distracting them during the last 10 minutes of matches and ensuring we drop points. ;-)
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Too funny Robbo - brilliant stuff.
As a Villa supporter I obviously want Villa to win, but I suspect the league will have to wait for at least one more season. Nice sentiment though..
Like us, Man U have not been awe-inspiring this season yet look where they are. The game against Chelsea will have reminded those that *needed* reminding that they have plenty in the tank if they need it to win the PL at anything more than a canter.
As for the Red Scouse, I too would prefer to see them win the league over anyone bar us, if only for a change. Don't think it's going to happen though - not now.
UTV
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quality blog..comment number 20 has no idea!
Utd for the prem now AGAIN :D
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Hmm. Since Rafa's 'rant' the first mention of Gerrard's assault charge in ages has just been made by Medieval-Evil. Another Liverpool deflection?
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I completely disagree that the fixture list favours united. how is it an advantage to have an away prem game after every champions league group game? furthermore, 10 of our first 17 games were away from home in the league, and all these away games were against the teams that finished 2nd to 11th last season! Also we have been obliged to go to tokyo for the club world cup in the midst of it all, meaning games in hand and a congested program. How exactly is this an advantage?!!
I think United have done amazingly to be where they are all things considered. The fixture list looks favourable now, only after we have kept ourselves in touch. We could and probably should be further behind, and playing catch up from a distance is never easy, physically or mentally. I think benitez knows liverpool, despite their good points haul, should be further ahead and it is niggling at him.
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SETANTA - Subscription: Extra Tenner, And Nothing To Appreciate
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kevthered83 - Where do you want me to start?
Read the 'rant' and tell me what isn't a fact. Don't just make things up, actually read it.
As an example of 1 thing that is a fact, Rafa said "United played on the 29th and the rest of the teams played on the 28th". There is 1 fact.
Try reading the whole statement as it is full of facts that everyone but united fans know.
The link to his 'rant' is the first link in Phil's article at the top of this page. If you have trouble reading the big words, try a dictionary - sorr, dick-shon-erry.
Have fun!
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Yeah, Lets Debate should change his handle to 'Lets Moan'. Amazes me why people read stuff they don't like.
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"You can see SAF looking down the list of fixtures for 2009-10 and bawling 'We're United! What dae ye mean wuh hav tae play everyone home AND away?"
This whole article was hilarious, good effort.
Also, dont you think its too early to write off chelsea, they were written off last year in a worse state than they are now - with a bigger points deficit and a manager who may or may not be a zombie. Still took it to the wire, couple of bad results and everyone gets over-excited
I dont like chelsea ftr, they annoy me
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The Telegraph article speaks the truth. That is all.
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ok happy red il give you that 1. The fact that Utd played on the 29th and the rest on the 28th was a fact (allthough Villa played on the 30th...damn FA bias) but thats just like quoting a fact saying Grass is green, it means nothing. The main spine of Benitez's argument was based solely on fiction.
1 such point..."During the Respect campaign ? and this is a FACT ? Mr Ferguson was charged by the FA for improper conduct after comments made about Martin Atkinson and Keith Hackett. He was not punished. He is the only manager in the league that cannot be punished for these things."
Fact incorrect, many managers have not been punished. The fact should read that SIR Alex Ferguson is the only manager that has been charged. (i know this has been quoted before in other blogs but these silly scousers still dont seem to understand the difference between fact and fiction)
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Good effort.... though why you didn't mention that just after this all kicked off, those of us who watched the chelski manure game felt 3 things.
1) Chelski were rubbish and didn't deserve to win.
2) Ronaldo should have been sent off in the 2nd half, Rooney in the first.
3) The ref was Manure's 12th man.
It's so depressing to see just how unsporting and biased the prem has become. You can't even watch the clashes between the top 4 with any fair play anymore!
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#40 - That is indeed a fact but why does it show bias? A little known company called Sky like to show the games on television and for that reason they get moved around. This time it was United's turn (or are sky also part of the great consipracy?). As it turned out they had to play under the pressure of knowing liverpool had spanked newcastle the day before and that only a win was good enough to stay in touch. Not sure how much of an advantage that turned out to be, especially as Boro also had an extra days rest.
Maybe before Geroge Bush finishes at the white house, Rafa can persuade him to invade Old Trafford, depose Fergie and halt this dastardly conspiracy once and for all. He may even find some WMDs!
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There is more than way one to lose it. You don't have to do a Keegan to lose the plot. So just because Rafa reads from a piece of paper, doesn't mean he didn't lose the plot. He made it sound like Fergie was making comments about Pool every week. But it was like one comment every few weeks. It wasn't as if Fergie's comment about whether Liverpool can handle the pressure is something unreasonable to say is it. That was the comment that triggered Rafa's response. Fergie's comment wasn't exactly outside the box or something wild. It was a simple reasonable comment. So if that is all it takes to trigger a response from Rafa, than not only should the question of pressure be put to the Pool players but to also the manager.
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Hey Robbo, your boss was in here earlier. We tried to cover for you, told him you?d just nipped out to strain the old greens, but I?m not sure he bought it. He left with a face like Iain Dowie?s after a slapping match. Best get your excuses in order mate, else you?ll be joining the regulars down the Bluebell full time, like.
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Being a liverpool fan, i have to side with Rafa. But i do think his outbust was 1. A bit stupid and 2. Wrongly timed.
A lot of what he said is true, and granted him and fergie have had two very different careers at their respective clubs (Rafa + problems, Fergie + Praise), but the outburst will either die quickly (doubtful) or explode into a mass combustion of distractions.
I just hope there is a master plan no-one knows about going on in Rafa's brain. I hope he's going to lead Man U into a hole and leave them there.... unaware of what hit them. But thats just dreaming, he probably has lost the plot!
Other than that, for the last 4 weeks i've been begining to watch chelsea die down and Man U keep a good consistency, which worried me when they where further behind. Just watching them sly up the ladder. I reckon on saturday we will be 2nd. But the Monday derby is a bigg'un and I believe Liverpool will pull through for that and reclaim the lead till the following weekend.
I think we can dismiss chelsea as a title runner, but they could be a threat if things change.
People say we rely on Gerrard and Torres. Gerrard I can agree on, but not torres. Think we've only had him for a handful of games this season and look where we are! And he's scored a reasonable amount in comparison to the amount of games he's played.
When Torres is back, Liverpool play in good form and a great squad is out, we can challenge united.
I only hope Rafa is doing this to wind up fergie and make him start to dismiss Rafa's credibility.... fool the Scotsman and rob his porridge!!
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P.S, good article Robbo! First one i think i've read from you. I'll keep my eye out for more!
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Mr Benitez... just stay quite and cool, lets concentrate on playing proper football. I have to admit, we are JUST winning, the football we playing is neither attractive nor solid. we just scrapping wins like what HULL has been doing. Concentrate on building our team, leave the RANTING to the Fergies and the Mourinos, thats their food and drink...
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the toonster, how can you claim the ref was Utd's 12th man. 2 goals disallowed incorrectly, at least 2, maybe 3 good penalty appeals turned down, numerous good advantages not played, and 2 other wrong offside decisions in fantastic scoring opportunities.
Neither Ronaldo or Rooney did anything to warrant a red card...If anyone should have been sent off it should have been Belletti
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Mr Benitez is tactician and a football manager who knows what it takes to be a gentleman and a sportsman. He never hits out at referees in the half time during matches. What Rafa said were facts and statistics that anybody who has brains can find and analyse. So please leave an honest gentleman do his work.
YNWA
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#11 - I hear that Chris, for entertainment value and sheer cinicism (Thats probably spelt wrong), Robbo comes tops. But it has to be said, he is closely follow by the Review of the week and Gavin Strachan blogs (Both writers take a good deal of effort to respond to comments). Tim Vickery has his moments now and again, depends how interested you are in SA Football.
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Planet Taggart! Genius! :)
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Well Done SundayParkGeorge -
u obviously have far too much time on ur hands aswell?! hahaha lol
but very good and funny nevertheless
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Oh you as well eh?
1. It's a free country! Rafa is allowed to state his opinion and it had no effect on what happened on the pitch. Our inability to beat mediocre teams had been going on long before these latest comments. In fact, the season has been unusually marked by the 'big four' dropping points and failing to capitalize when their rivals slip up.
2. Rafa was merely stating (not ranting) what many people feel to be true. The fact that people are trying to shut him up just further indicates that he's hit a nerve. It may be inconvenient, uncomfortable perhaps, but a mere modicum of research would bear out the fact that ManU are constant benefactors in what should be equitable factors. It is also fair to point out that tyranny thrives when people bury their heads in the sand to become complicit. What happened in the Serie A was sustained by the attitude I see coming from many quarters in the power corridors of English football. If one watches a lot of premiership football matches, one will note the simple fact that ManU constantly benefit from favourable decisions on and off the pitch. It's become like clockwork and the premiership would become an even better and more competitive league if true parity is restored.
3. He may possess some natural wit and a wily mind - but Fergie is not the psychological guru many would make him out to be. People say that he gets the better of people simply because it works in ManU's favour - but that's like rewarding a bully for his ability to abuse power. Furthermore, there is a hint of xenophobia in this rush to judgement. Wenger, Mourinho, and now Benitez are judged to have come off worse in their battles with Fergie simply because they are foreign and not always fluent in the expression of their opinions. Sadly, Rafa will be judged by his broken English - but if you listen to the crux of what he said, particularly the latest comment about conflict of interest in the FA, it's a fair point.
4. Rafa's big mistake this weekend was not his comments about Fergie and Gill but rather his cautious team selection against Stoke. Playing the slow non-scoring Kuyt in preference to his 40 million pound strikeforce was absolute lunacy. Kuyt has neither pace or guile, doesn't win much in the air, and is not particularly good at holding the ball up. Equally strange was his decision to go with a workmanlike central midfield pairing, neither of which shows much creativity in the final third. Surely one of them would have been fine against Stoke City! Compounding the problem is extremely poor wide-play from both wingers and fullbacks. Carragher will never be a overlapping fullback and our best left back option just left for South America. Babel and Benayoun have been woefully inadequate and Rierra is patchy at best. Rafa's refusal to give Pennant (a genuine winger) a chance - or strengthen in that area - will cost us a lot more than comments made to,
and promptly dismissed by the Fergie Association.
5. ManU fans may mock and gloat but they know deep down that these accusations are true. Sure, ManU get a flimsy fine now and then - or a dubious decision against them on the pitch - but more often than not, they are the benefactors of dodgy decisions and administrative bias. The arrogant projection of 'untouchability' that comes from their manager and fans alike is well rooted in the fact that the playing field continually runs downhill for them. Watching a ManU game is unlike watching any other - with that feeling of inevitability clouding the game. When do they get the dodgy penalty, the offside goal, someone else's player sent off, some game-changing decision in their favour? It even happened against brave and lowly FA cup opposition lately. If anyone would dare to do the research (and they won't!), some interesting and poignant questions would get answered. How many points a season rest on those favourable decisions? After deducting those
points, how many titles could be seen as tainted?
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ManU play Wednesday and Saturday, that's after a Sunday game, Liverpools next game is 8 days after their last one.
Fixture list bias?
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FICTION 1: "Two years ago we were playing a lot of early kick-offs away on Saturdays when United were playing on Sundays. And we didn't say anything."
FACT 1: Rafael Benitez, September 2007: "We will be talking to the Premier League about this because it is not fair. I don't know if it is possible to change these fixtures in the New Year, but I hope so because, in the last few years, we have played more games on a Saturday than anyone and more away games than anyone. There are too many early kick-offs and I am not pleased about the situation at all."
FICTION 2: "You can see every single week how they put (referees) under pressure, we know this. We have seen it before. We have seen players sent off at Old Trafford and we do not see our opponents sent off."
FACT 2: Opposition players sent off at Old Trafford in the league this season - none. Stoke's Andy Wilkinson is the only player to be sent off against United in the Premier League this season. Opposition players sent off against Liverpool this season - five, including Nemanja Vidic of Manchester United.
FICTION 3: "Now he is complaining about everything, that everybody is against United. But the second half of the season will see them playing at home against all the teams at the top of the table, it is a fantastic advantage."
FACT 3: Last time ED checked everyone had to play everyone else twice - surely the order in which you play your games is irrelevant. And it's not like United covered themselves in glory in their away games against the top four - one point out of nine hardly represents a fantastic advantage.
FICTION 4: "At Christmas, United played on the 29th and the rest of the teams played on the 28th. We were away against Newcastle two days after playing Bolton. They were playing about 40 hours later, they were not complaining then."
FACT 4: United played 31 hours later, but their opponents Middlesbrough also had the benefit of an extra day's rest so it wasn't much help. And Liverpool's game against Newcastle was so one-sided they would have exerted themselves more by staying in and watching Wallace and Gromit. Plus, to be really pedantic, Aston Villa - who are level on points with United - played Hull on Tuesday 30.
FICTION 5: "There are two options if we don't want more problems with fixtures. One is the same as in Spain, the draw for the first part of the league is known, everyone knows which weekend. In the second-half everyone plays the opposite, so you all know."
FACT 5: That wouldn't help at all. You all know your fixtures anyway, and a Spanish system wouldn't stop United playing all of the Big Four at home in the second half of the season.
FICTION 6: "During the Respect campaign - and this is a fact - Mr Ferguson was charged by the FA for improper conduct after comments made about Martin Atkinson and Keith Hackett. He was not punished. He is the only manager in the league that cannot be punished for these things."
FACT 6: Harry Redknapp can also get away with it, having got off scot-free for this pop at Steve Tanner: "He's a poor referee and I've seen him make a mess of so many games. I couldn't even put into words what I thought of his performance. I walked into the referee's room before the game and saw who was refereeing and I knew what was coming. I expected that sort of performance. I've had him before many times and I know what he's like. He's really not good enough."
FICTION 7: "I will be watching United's game with Chelsea. The result does not matter to us, if we win at Stoke that result does not matter."
FACT 7: Sorry, that one was a fact.
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I can understand a lot of Liverpool fans wanting to back their manager but why don't they scrutinise his statement before saying everything he said was factual.
He complained about Sir Alex Ferguson not being punished for the comments about Martin Atkinson. Fergie was charged, however the FA made some sort of mistake during the proceedings and Graham Bean (a previous FA employee) got Fergie off on a technicality.
As for the fixtures, yes Fergie complained about playing each league match away from home after a champions league match, but I'm afraid Benitez must have a short memory. Here are a couple of his statements from a two years ago.
Benitez on August 23, 2007:
"I would like to ask the Premier League why is it that Liverpool always play the most fixtures away from home in an early kick-off, following an international break? We had more than the top clubs last season and we have four already to prepare for this season. It's going to be very difficult for us to win the Premier League because the other teams are so strong, but I want our supporters to know that despite the disadvantages we have, we will fight all the way."
Benitez on September 17, 2007:
"We will analyse it and talk with the Premier League. We will see how to stop this situation, but if you play on Tuesday, for example, in an international break, it will be easier. In the Champions League, if you play on Wednesday, you must play on Sunday. In Spain it's like this. The television companies decide on early kick-offs on Saturday, so someone needs to talk to them as well. If you want your teams at the top of the Champions League, then protect them."
These two statements are taken from today's newspapers.
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BKkred its actually 9 days later
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Kevthered83, I don't know what game you were watching but I was shocked that Rooney was still on the field at the end of play.
After Cashley Cole's insubordination last season, which kick-started the Respect campaign, I thought that referees were supposed to disipline players for things like foul and abusive language. What Rooney did, in responding the way he did to a linesmans correct decision, was many times worse than Cashley's actions yet the referee loses his bottle and once again Rooney gets away with a temper tantrum. Any other player would, rightly, have been sent off. The way that Rooney is mollycoddled is proof of an FA bias. Any neutral would agree I think.
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Oh yeh, United are the only side that gets favourable decisions(!) You only have to look at the number of times Gerrard gets away with blatant diving and the resulting free kick/penalty that leads to wins/draws. That justs one example. What about Ronaldo's two goals that were disallowed on sunday? Oh is that a sign that United get decisions, according to Pool fans(!) Whilst your researching how many points United get on the basis of favourable decisions, why don't you do the same for your team. I think you will find 'hypocrite' will be the word of the day to describe you.
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how is it worst than Ashley cole??? Ashley had a rant at a referee for booking him for nearly ending a players career, Rooney disputed an offside decision. Yes he had a rant to argue a decision but it went no further than that. And if he had of been booked, I doubt he would have made the challenge for the 2nd yellow card
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I don't think Fergie would be starting any scraps in a Trappist monastery he would be Michael Ballack's-ed on the beer!! Very funny blog. Thanks Robbo.
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Funny how Rafa forgot to mention that United were playing the World Club Cup and could understand why they played later due to jet lag recovery.
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Robbo i gotta say that was one of your poorest blogs to date.
It seems you pick on Liverpool in one way or another every week now, which for a side that has been top of the league for the past month seems a little strange.
I do find it very perculiar how everyone just accepts the fact that Fergie is the only one who is allowed to shoot his mouth off and people just think 'oh Fergie's off on another one of his rants again.' Yet if someone else does to Fergie they have 'lost the plot!' Strange!
For me it wasn't what he said or even how he said it, the only thing Benitez did wrong was he should have seen how we did against Stoke and if we got the 3 points then try and put the pressure on Fergie. Oh well he will learn!
As for those who now believe after United had the better weekend of the 2 teams and will now stroll to the title they are totally deluded. Its one thing speculating about the future its another making a title prediction on the back of a manager's press conference! Football is played on a pitch not in a press room or in the papers!
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rosey you find it strange that people are criticising Liverpool more because they have been at the top for a while? My friend, it is part of the territory. Whoever is top gets sniped at constantly.
That said, it doesnt help when your manager goes nuts before a potential bannana skin of an away game.
And yes football matches are won on the pitch...but they are won largely based on the decisions of the manager, and clearly Rafa did not make the right 1.
i agree, 1 weekend will not decide the destiny of the title, but it has shown the difference in class between the 2 teams, in that Utd will go all out for a win, whereas Liverpool will settle for a draw, and whilst nothing is definate, it does suggest Liverpools challenge will start to slow down. Partticularly as 2 of there next 3 games are Everton & Chelsea.
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Stunning insight as usual!!!
never a dull moment with this column. What about the conspiracy to keep Hull City out of the top 6 by not awarding goals that are scored because someone was in the eyelinr of the keeper?
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Robbo, this was just briliant. Absolutely made my day as I sit here is a very cold New York City. And who would argue with up the Villa? As the pool, Chelski (can anyone still remember how mid table they were before the Russian came along) and, unfortunately the Arse (unfortunate because my 8 year old just decided to support them) implode, second place is looking a definite possibility for the Villains. it's been a long and at times painfull hunded years but the glory days might be back in Birmingham 6 (of course, I remember the early 80's and was there for all of it but it was short lived thanks to Deadly's ego).
I even reckon the Toffees could make it into the top 4, with Chelski and the Arse missing out on the Champs League. Wouldn't that be just brilliant and shake things up, at least for a year. Is anyone else sick of hearing the Big 4 banded about so liberally? The only negative to all of this is that Man U will win the league. However one day they will implode and be rubbish, who will everyone from outside of Manchester support then?
Come on you Lions!!!!!
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Robbo - i liked this blog - it is one of your best i think!... but why has it taken so long to get it out there... Rafa's rant was Friday i think...even if you waited til the chelsea result this was Sunday.... surely you could have banged this out sunday/monday morning?? eh? come on son!... your better than that Robbo... keep it super topical...
anyway IMO Liverpool are not really in the title race - not even any of the liverpool fans i speak with will take a bet with me that they will win the league... they are just happy to still not be out of it.....
Man U champions, Chelsea 2nd, Liverpool 3rd (but closer than ever) and hopefully Villa 4th.
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Kevthered83, the nice thing about being a neutral is that you can watch games with some objectivity.
Rooney should have had a yellow card for his tackle on Bosingwa. When Bosingwa responded with a carbon copy of the tackle he got booked.
Rooney should then have had a second yellow, then a red, for his screaming fit at the linesman.
Simple really, isn't it?
I would like to add that I actually have a lot of time for Rooney, he works hard for his team and for England but he really needs to learn to channel his aggression in the right way. Just saying that he's passionate isn't good enough.
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I'm not particularly a Man U fan, but Fergie has regularly outsmarted the best in English Football on the pitch. Why is it surprising that he can parse words and do a better job of being critical of referees while avoiding fines than every other manager? He's simply a cut above the rest. Rafa isn't a very good whiner, and ultimately, Liverpool will be second to Man U. Sorry folks, it's just the way it is.
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Soccer's
Extra
Tax
And
Not
Tremendously
Admirable !
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Kevthered i agree and disagree with you actually. I think you will find that in recent weeks even United have struggled to score goals against the lesser teams and it wasn't until Chelsea who didn't stick 10 men behind the ball that you shone. So i actually think the Everton games and Chelsea match isn't the worst thing to happen to us.
The only bad thing about that little run is that they are all back to back which isn't ideal as you would think we would slip up somewhere but knowning us we could win all three and then draw our next so called easy game 0-0! either way it all makes for a very intriguing season and in my opinion the best two teams in English footballing history going at it for the title for the first time in many a year.
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poppyAstonvanilla
Yes, Rooney should've got a yellow, most fans would agree. But would he have 'screamed' at the linesman, knowing he had a yellow? Yes its Rooney, but who knows, maybe, maybe not. You don't know for sure, your just speculating. If Roo's behaviour started to escalate if he got that yellow for the foul on Bosingwa, than Fergie may have taken him off, like he has done in the past. Ifs and buts aren't good enough. So you and i don't know for certain whether Rooney would've gone all crazy on the linesman if he got the yellow for the foul on Bosingwa
It was a real shame that linesman weren't doing his job for both Ronaldo's disallowed goals.
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poppyastonvanilla, the point is though that if Rooney had of been booked I do not believe he would have done anything to provoke a 2nd yellow card, particularly as the world would be scrutinising every refereeing decision after Rafa's silly A4 shennanigans.
Say what you want about Rooney, but most of the time (I stress the word Most, not all) he does curve his temprement if he is on a booking.
And anyhow....Im assuming your a Villa fan. Surely you cant be classified as a neutral this season???
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Excellent piece Robbo as ever. The underlying truths were spot on too.
Yes Utd do get away with murder, yes Fergie does and says things others would get the book thrown at them for, yes Utd do get too many of 'those decisions', but equally, the manager of Liverpool FC pointing these out is unreal in the extreme.
Why? Because not so very long ago it was they, not Utd, getting those decisions (week in week out) they who's managers got away with making comments others would be slain by the FA for.
As a certain Alex Ferguson (just Alex then) said "I can understand why clubs come away from here (Anfield) choking on their vimit, knowing thy have been done by referees. It would be a miracle to win here".
Ah the irony.........
The Utd fans are also totally correct. No-one wins the mind games against Fergie, and Benitez's comments show he's totally rattled.
By the same token I have to say, now Chelsea are out of it, who really cares? Utd or Liverpool battling for the title has the same appeal for the English neutral as the depressing Glasgow double act across the border for the Scots.
None.
But then increasingly I wonder who football is playing for now anyway.....
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Good blog but the whole media Fergie is the master of mind games thing is beginning to get irritating and are exactly the sort of sycophantic nonsense Benitez is on about.
In 1998 and 2002 Wenger was widely agreed to have won the mind games when going for the title as did Mourinho in 2006. The common factor in all 3 instances is that they had a better team. The bottom line is that whoever has the better team always wins the so-called mind games because they don't crack and so back up the manager's words on the pitch. United or better than Liverpool, therefore Fergie wins the mind games. Not the other way round.
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I have not seen the footage of Rafa, but I read the text, could Kevthered83 please tell us how ALL the facts has been proven inaccurate? (or for that matter, any Utd fan who agrees with his statement (#1)).
I am a Liverpool fan. I can't really see how people think Rafa has lost the plot. An outburst maybe, but if you think everyone who has an outburst has "lost the plot" the nation would be one big mental hospital. I am worried that we could let the league slip, probably like every other Liverpool fan, but I am not too worried about the OTT headlines which oscillate weekly depending on one good/bad performance!
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paul curtis, read post 59, that sums it up nicely
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@rosey05:
You forgot to mention Robbo also had a go at Chelsea and Man Utd (well Alex Ferguson anyway).
If his comments regarding Liverpool are the only reason you think its a poor blog, then you need to get a grip. With all thats been said in the media, regarding Benitez, it would have been remiss of him not to have mentioned it.
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To 53 - ever noticed that if you re-arrange the letters in your sign-off you get the general public's reaction to the "United Conspiracy" rant.
To 57 - take a note from 59 - examples refuted by information, not opinions supported by the rosy glow of self-righteous indignation. As for xenophobic bias in highlighting the reaction - this sort of thing started with KK, is Doncaster foreign now?
To 59 - bravo! A well prepared and committed response - the sort of thing that ( when applied to football ) usually swings the balance - like on Sunday.
This all said, as mentioned above, the title is not decided now. There will be a twist in the tale.
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dyrewolf im not crying over spilt milk! we are in the best position we have been in for too many years! i accept that we are going to get a few haters in the media. I just think the blog was poor.. too many jokes and not enough substance but thats jus my opinion you are entitled to yours just like i am mine. It also annoys me to have to read pretty much the same thing for the last month... a little rant about how poor Boro are doing, then slate Liverpool and polish it off by throwing in a few jokes.... read Phil Mcnulty's blog if you want a proper objective outlook on the major talking points of the week! BUt like i said just my preference!
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Check. seen post 59 - I agree, some of his facts support the argument, but others are a bit tentative if they are to be used as "facts"
For example "fact 2" states only this season. I do not know the facts for the previous seasons, but this MAY be a case of massaging the stats to back a point.
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Rosey - I think you've missed the whole purpose of this blog - there is a reason why its in the fun and games section
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Is that coz itz for kidz hu cnt read or right?!
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That's it i've had enough .... I am a neutral (championship supporter), and all this ...oh everyones against ManUtd ....
everyones against Liverpool ....
everyones against Chelsea ....
everyones against Arsenal ....
Its getting boring and tedious, every team has its ups and downs, whatever you say if you look back over a COMPLETE season things even out they always will...
Look objectively at your own team .... if the managers did the same and concentrated on getting their tactics/ team selection/ preperation right they wouldn't need to spend time delving into other teams etc ...
And the bit about the Respect campaign, it won't work until they stop ALL the teams doing it. The ranting/ Raving and chasing of referees/ linesman because they think that the decision was wrong has been done by both ManUtd AND Chelsea and most of the others in the recent past.
Referees have to make a decision based on what they see and have to make it in a split second. There are a lot of decisions that the TV companies have been talking about and replaying for days/ weeks afterwards and they still can't make a definative decision .... what hope has the Ref got.
GROW UP ... TAKE WHATEVER DECISIONS ARE GIVEN AND GET ON WITH THE GAME!
Whatever happened to "The ref decision is final"
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If it's for peope who can't read - surely there would be no text but all pictures?
It's a lighthearted look back at the week by someone who can be quite amusing at times.
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11-Giggsy-11 - You could speculate about any decision ever given. What passes as post match analysis these days is mostly speculation.
Kevthered83- I would say that I was a neutral, being a Villa fan. As much as I'd like us to win it, I think that fourth is more realistic for us this season. We'd need to consistently finish in the top four to classify as a " Top Four" team anyway. Everton finished fourth once and no-one calls them a Top Four team anymore.
And just to reiterate, I genuinely rate Rooney as a player. It's just that his attitude is appalling sometimes.
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ShahenshahG is right ...
There is a reason why its in the section that it is ... it is a LIGHTHEARTED look at football ....
Anyone who supports Boro can't take football too seriously ;-)
Anyway as you say Rosey05 its all about opinions, if you people don't like what is said, they don't need to keep reading it.
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well no i will keep reading becuase i like to hear what others have to say. I actively choose to pick out those which i disagree with otherwise i would just be repeating what someone else has said!
Its also in the FOOTBALL section and there is very little footballing debate in this blog im afraid.
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Mind Games theatre refers to yesteryears Wenger / Ferguson exchanges. That?s not what Benitez is about here, he?s too calculated and strategic for that. He unfortunately felt he needed to pre-empt Ferguson before he delivered his usual last third of season warnings to referees (united need protection), as he did with Ronaldo. He went to war on Steve Bennet in the days before united played Liverpool. As a result Torres was kicked off the part without justice (he sadly had to be taken off). With Mascherano sent off for asking questions (why are they kicking us?) Mr Bennet gave united a major assist in collecting a valuable 3 points.
Benitez has his kept trump card while he offers Ferguson a cease fire and a resumption of battle on the football pitch. If united don?t respond to the Gill accusation it will indicate they are concerned about what Benitez might know (his trump card). Unlike the Wenger theatre this is a well calculated game of poker that Benitez has embarked upon. Let?s wait and see how good Ferguson is at poker (a game of strategy) rather than mind games which will have no effect on Benitez.
I believe I am correct is saying that Liverpool have largely achieved top spot without Torres. Although united are favourites I do think Liverpool?s 2nd half season should improve. With 42 pts for the 1st half season I would expect a greater return with the addition of a fresh Torres over the 2nd half season. If united are to win the premier league they will have to do so by out performing Liverpool through football only.
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Great blog Robbo. For me Benitez made himself look a complete fool in that press conference. His main point about Ferguson and the fixture list might be fair enough but Benitez in June 2007 complained in a press conference about EXACTLY THE SAME THING! Also, saying that Ferguson gets away with more than any other managers is completely untrue, can you remember the last time you saw Ferguson confronting the ref at half time like a lot of the other managers, cuz I cant! And if u remember it was only a couple of months ago when fergie got that touchline ban. Benitez tried to play with the big boys and I personally think has made himself look pretty soft.
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Paul Curtis -
Yes it has only applied to this year as it was this year that Benitez made the comment/accusation, whatever you want to call it?!
As I am a neutral lower league supporter, it isnt a
"case of massaging the stats to back a point"
as i have no need to do that as I done care about Fergie and Rafa's lil Handbag Wars, just adding my notings to the debate?!
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Rosey05
I agree that there seems to be little actual footballing debate going on .... through the comments below, but I disagree slightly because in his own way Robbo does try and stimulate debate on the current issues.
I think if most people actually read and re-read the original article instead of going straight onto their keyboard and ranting they will see he actually makes fun of ManUtd, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and his beloved Boro!
I sometimes think that in this world of people taking themselves too seriously people should just relax and smile abit more :-)
I'm sure SAF is sitting there laughing his socks off thinking that he has Benitez and Liverpool running around in circles looking for stats and facts, instead of concentrating on more important things, because I know he will.
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ok admittedly he does make fun of his own team which is a rare commodity in a football fan these days. but come on... stimulating debate on current issues?! Really???
So by that token if United drop points tomorrow against Wigan are all the Liverpool supporters allowed to claim that Benitez has got to them?! All this talk is a complete load of nonsense! Why aren't we debating the matches that these teams played in over the weekend rather than what the managers have to say!
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Robbo My friend, you need to get one of your friends to steal some material for you - Excerpts from the Benitez Diaries - I'm also still waiting for those Fergie diaries!
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LETS BE AVING YA.
Rafa, for your sake i hope you bring the title home.
That or the BIG CUP anyway, because if you don't there will be hell to pay with the yanks and the MANY future reference to Kevin Keegan for you.
In the mean time, KEEP A LID ON IT my amigos.
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Interesting comment digispoonerta. As a Liverpool fan I am not really paying attention to the hand bag war either I just want Torres and Keane to ideally get a chance to build a partnership together or at least one or the other start every single game between now and the end of the season. Our players can win it but we need to be given a chance. I know we need the money from the CL but I am not bothered either way if we go out against Real Madrid just as long as we actually play attacking exciting football. If Rafa wants to keep his job or renew his contract too many performances like that one at Stoke will not help at all and the list to replace him will be huge.
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FAntastic blog as per usual Robbo:
Brilliant point about Fergie complaining unjustly re-fixture list. It's quite clear that there are underhand tactics at work to ensure that they get the easiest fixture list, and the reason he bleats about it being unfair is to try and throw people off the scent.
Dual role for that bloke in United and the FA, suspicious much? Jesus, why don't they just come out and admit that they (The FA) want United to win the league every year. It's obvious, of course they do - it just means that they can sell the TV rights for more money as more people around the world (but not in this country so much) are happy.
Sickening.
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Considering he is self-styled knight-in-shining-armour crusador for 'Respect' in football, Benitez has called in to question the integrity of the FA, the referees, David Gill, Ferguson, his players - effectively calling them cheats. Who next? The Manchester United canteen staff better watch their backs. Will Bennyitez himself get a ban? If he does, he'd be only the second manager this season to get one... after the 'untouchable' Ferguson.
I actually think Benitez's bizarre behaviour is to divert attention from various off-field matters at Anfield. But for him to not properly research his statement (after making such an issue about 'facts') makes him look very foolish indeed.
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Rosey05 .... I agree in fact my earlier point #88 make that exact argument...
Personally, the fact that that there isn't much of a debate id ue more to the posters than Robbo himself ....
Anyway what I saw of the game, seemed like Chelsea self destructed after the first goal. They don't seem to have the right mentality in the team at the moment.
Whether thats due to the manager not getting his points across I don't know, but I don't think they would have rolled over and played dead under Mouriniho.
Liverpool seem to struggle without Torres and Gerrard playing together in the big games, but then again Stoke have taken points off most of the top 4 this season so they must be doing something right.
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For me, Rafa Benitez is a nonsense spouting, corpulent Spanish waiter with disconcerting facial hair who has been exposed by Sir Alex as the weak link in Liverpool's title challenge.
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Ok
my post should have read Liverpool seem to struggle without Torres and Gerrard playing together in the important games....
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#104
Somewhat xenophobic wasn't it.
You might not like that guy but to bring his nationality into just is WRONG WRONG WRONG...
DO NOT back your argument up with what is on the whole racism .....
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Unlike 1 or 2 posts on here i thought the Setanta gag was awful ! Something you would expect from a class of year 6s.
However, you redeemed yourself with 'It's clear-out time at the Bridge: you get more interest from your average savings account than you do from Drogba these days; Hassungotta Kalou and Skiptoo Malouda can go; Deco's a dud; it's tempting to change the vowels in Ballack's name after Sunday.'
Quality.
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boring, nonsense
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I was beggining to agree with you there up until that bit about Liverpool! Torres hasn't played in any of our big games this season and we took 7 points from 3 games which isn't bad at all! 2 away games in there also!
I think credit has to go to Liverpool for coping without the likes of Torres for the large majority of the season and he will only be a plus for the remainder of season which fills every Liverpool supporter with confidence!
In regards to Stoke, yes they are hard to beat on their own patch but from a Liverpool perspective its pretty poor that we have played them home and away and failed to score! But on Saturday i must say they thoroughly deserved their point and actually looked more threatening than we did going forward! I won't get too worked up about it though i think a good merseyside derby double-header will allow us to put that right to the back of our minds! Bring on the blue noses!
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Funny as usual, Robbo, but can we have a few blogs that aren't about the top 4?
The moaning of Ferguson and Benitez then just gets re hashed by their so sensitive fans on your comments board.
The real fun is at the bottom of the table (i.e. 7th place and below).
Are City going down with a billion in the bank? Is Harry Houdini's mediocre management record going to finally be found out? Can the Spurs transfer policy get any more stupid? Is Allardyce going to keep Blackburn up at the expense of Newcastle, whose fans thought he wasn't good enough for the Mighty Toon? Will Pompey's displays drive Tony Adams back to drink? Will Southgate have to put his tie knot in goal to achieve a clean sheet?
The only comment made by Ferguson that Benitez and everyone else should take on board was before the season started, when he commented that teams probably need to come close to winning the title before they finally do. Spot on.
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The humour in this blog really does appeal to the lowest common denominator, doesn't it...
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Its wrong Robbo for you to slate Obi Mikel for a match where the whole Chelsea time played like kindergarten pupils in a market square. Obi Mikel has been one of Chelsea's most outstanding players this season. If you do not know why Chelsea and Man-U were fighting over his signature, go ask FIFA why he was awarded the 2nd Best Player in the 2005 Youth Championship
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I think your right about Torres and I don't think my point came across to well.
I think Liverpool are a much better team with Torres in it and if he can stay fit ManUtd will really have troubles getting above you. That said I cannot understand how you can spend millions of pounds on Keane and leave him sitting on the bench against a team you haven't scored against.
He has not had a good start with you but just as he seemed to be getting confidence back and looking like he might score a few goals for you he gets to sit on the bench!?!?
If they can get them too playing together Liverpool will win it...
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Post 59 & 83
A detailed examination of the fact compared to fiction, and a committed response. Is this not a rant? Rafa is accused of ranting for having the same amount of detail
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106 digispoonerta
Calling #104's comment xenophobic is perhaps the biggest nonsense i've seen on this site since, well, the last paragraph to blitheringbrooks's message (#101).
Robbo called Fergie a 'Glasgow Beetroot' - is that racist as well? No, it's just a bit of fun.
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starfruitsurfrider - there are plenty of other things for you to read out the on the web, so why stay here and read this to moan??
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#116
He probably can't find a starfruit to surf at the moment.
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Samwell2804 - I'd like to think our licence fees go some way towards some thoughtful, funny and incisive football coverage - I'm entitled to read something and then make an opinion on it, rather than abstaining entirely, no? Apart from Tim Vickery's column and a few other occasional exceptions, that licence fee seems entirely wasted to me.
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chips_in_the_queue
Maybe its was .... I just think that if you need to relate to someones nationality to argue your point or to make a point at all....
Then you've not got much substance to it ....
Anyway lets try and actually debate football rather than ... all this rubbish ....
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When Berba tapped in Ronaldo's free kick on Saturday, he was being "marked" at the free kick by Santo. United had 3 (THREE) players in the box, yet you leave one of the most dangerous finishers in the league with a 19-year-old striker. No defenders available? This shocking marking and the mind-boggling absence of a defender on the post (costly against Fulham and United) suggest that Scolari's tactics need serious work.
I don't care much though, we're laughing all the way to the title.
And Ferguson spouts nonsense day in, day out, every season. None of it really means anything, but it riles people up no end - that's the point. Most sensible people in the game have learned not to get worked up about it. Until recently, I would have included Rafa in that category.
Oh well.
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I read somewhere the other day that someone was questioning the wisdom of Chelsea letting Steve Clark go.
I think that it was the wrong move, he seemed to be an underrated member of the management team at Chelsea and i think if you talk to Mouriniho/ Grant et al.... He was vital to them getting as far as they have in the recent years ....
Maybe Scolari is missing someone like that?
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Everyone seems to be stating that Man Utd are the only guilty party when it comes to getting things there own way... lets just be honest about the situation! all the "big" four teams in the premiership... moan, whine and "rant" about everything... and feel as though they have a devine right to get everything there own way, and its rather tedious. My opinions but...
Arsenal: for years now, no-one has been allowed to tackle there superstars.
Chelsea: were rich, dont hate us, love us please! We havent bought success, Man Utd did, but we did'nt!
Liverpool: The worlds against us, Man Utd get this and that for them... its not fair, I'm telling!
Man Utd: Ronaldo has no protectin, no-one and i repeat no-one can go within 3 yards of him, make it a rule
and for the record werent all these teams moaning they were going to leave the champions league along with that joke of a group G14 (isnt that a name more suited for a band)
But o yeah wait... we've started doing well in it now, so we'll stay in the champions league!!! I for one hope Villa and Everton qualify for a place in next seasons European super League!!!
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Well done Mr Robson. A well written, funny and informative article.
Danny Baker please take note.
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Another great blog !
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Always laugh at people like Post #20, must have a pretty empty life if you're reading stuff you know you won't like. Decent blog imo.
Anyway, the Rafa/Fergie discussion is redundant now, they've been pictured holding hands, see above!
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First of al congratulations to 118 for the first reference to the licence fee. Hoo-bloody-ray!
Secondly to backinwhite - I will get away from the big 4 but when SAF and Raf are spitting out their dummies like someone's postponed Christmas it's pretty hard to ignore.
Cos I agree with 88... is it necessary to have delusional paranoia to support a big 4 team - or does that only apply to the managers?
Only hope Big Phil continues to be relatively calm and straightforward - his team's all over the shop and he still continues to be a breath of fresh air, even if his team aren't going to win owt.
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Oh and apologies for appealing to the LCD, starfruit, etc. I'll be lacing the next blog with references to string theory, Wittgenstein and Bauhaus (had to look all them up, obviously, but I hope the effort is appreciated.
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Benitez said nothing but what is true... having said that, I agree with you, Robbo - he has singled out the school tough in the playground, hasn't he? I laughed out loud about the Trappist monastery comment - had to think of an excuse as I'm at work! Keep it up!
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the tees mouth is an idiot...who let him have his own blog?
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#129
What a well thought through and reasoned comment. Totally original, as well. Congratulations.
As for your question, come on now, surely a person of your undoubted intelligence can work that out?
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Robbo you're a dope. Liverpool get just as many breaks as United do. The smallest check of the actual facts would reveal that Liverpool get away with just as much as United do even now. In fact if you are talking about refereeing decisions they get away with more - check http://rightresult.net if you don't believe me.
Like every other lazy tabloid journo you just regurgitate what all the other flavour of the day idle hacks spout. Make a change and actually check just half the things you ascribe as facts.
That said you are spot on that Benitez has shot himself in the foot - hardly rocket science though is it eh?
Must do better.
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Fergie is no fool.He Knows that the fixture list is not fixed.However, he also sees one of his title rivals,With a little bit of a lead.Result?
Come out with a statement about the fixture list being against Man Utd,all of a sudden everybody starts talking about it,including Manager of the League leaders.Man Utd go on to win league.Football may be played on a pitch,however the Best Games are played in the head!
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Fergie is better at mind games than no other, Benitez must be so embarrased right now....shruvvled up proom... under he's covers, the stupid Spanish idiot.
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I'm a united supporter and I'm sorry Rafa and youse lot, but the stats simply don't prove all these accusations of preferential treatment. Not in a million years.
And Rafa, fair do's he's doing a good job as liverpool are looking very tidy indeed, but he has lost the plot.
Picking on all the referees and the FA will not bend things your way in football, strange as it may seem.
Mourinho, if he were in Rafa's position, might have praised saf, calling him the grand old man of football....history.
That's how you play mind games, not tearfully blurting out a list you made up last night in the hotel.
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129
The only problem with giving an idiot like me a blog is that it allows people like you to make your constructive contributions... sigh.
Whoever said that Fergie doesn't always win the mind games was quite right too. Wenger's outthought him a couple of times and Mourinho never blinked. Trouble is, he just looks for someone else to chew up and Rafa's the most willing wee gazelle on the plain. As I say if he winds his neck in and lets his team do the talking he might nick it (courtrooms and hamstrings permitting, of course).
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Thanks for putting me straight on what Setanta stood for. Having looked at their schedule, I thought it was...Some Evenings There's Absolutely Nothing To Air.
I like the way Rafa had a go at Fergie during the final, delicate negotiations over his pay. I bet G and S (the Yanks, not the operetta writers) chucked him a few extra bob for showing his Mersey allegiance in the time-honoured, Manc-bashing way. Great scouse tactic for closing a deal. Now all The SpaniBeard needs to do is sort out his job role. After all, who wants to be paid a couple of million a year if you can't have a say in which 9 year olds should come and train at the Academy?
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Has Rafa really put his foot in it or is it a typical Benitez ploy to take pressure off his players and put it on him - he has done this quite successfully in the past. It's too early to say, and going by the Utd "supporters" (substitute glory boys if necessary) reaction to their win over a very poor Chelsea side on Sunday, we may as well save some energy and hand them the league now. I thought that was why we played 38 games and not 21?
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"... tempted to change the vowels in Ballack's name ..."
Made me laugh out loud! Well done.
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http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5EWBn48SSgE
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Absolutly brilliant as always! This guy always cracks me up! Thinking of starting a petition to get robbo to replace Alan " I hate Man Utd and never have anything positive to say" Green on Radio 5 live! That`d liven it up a bit!
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united_dreamer - "Robbo you're a dope. Liverpool get just as many breaks as United do. The smallest check of the actual facts would reveal that Liverpool get away with just as much as United do even now. In fact if you are talking about refereeing decisions they get away with more - check http://rightresult.net if you don't believe me."
What a ridiculous site that is - it clearly loses its credibility when it says that Liverpool's goal at home to Stoke should have been disallowed - even the most anti-Liverpool supporter in the world cannot agree with that based on referees' current interpretation of the offside rule.
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I love the way any time a manager of one of the title contenders speaks out against the senial, mouth-minure that vomits out of Alex Ferguson's mouth, it is cast off as "rising to bait" or "Fergie is winning mind games". I wish Tony Mowbray would have a planned out rant publicly about the special treatment SAF gets from officials and the FA and also the nonsense that he can frequently be found chatting (not to the BBC though). That way people wouldn't keep saying how great Ferguson is at miond-games with his direct rivals.
I remember after the Celtic game at Old Trafford where Man U helped themselves to 2 very offside goals, in the post-match interview Ferguson claimed it was "about time" his team got a few soft decisions without a trace of irony in his voice.
Having watched Man U get break after break this season, it seems that Ferguson sees football very differently to how most other people see it.
Yes his record is phenomennal and yes what he has done over the years has been incredible but that doesn't excuse the rubbish he's been spouting in interviews in the last couple of years.
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Brilliant blog Robbo - it has made this Cockney Kiwi's day. But re Chelsea-Scolari bit, can't help thinking all the red cards Chelsea have been getting lately have injected a fatalist element into the team's psyche.
Chelsea seemed to be in with a chance against Man United until John Terry picked up a yellow. He must have felt he was playing on glass not grass after that.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
#39
SETANTA - Subscription: Extra Tenner, And Nothing To Appreciate
-----------------------------------------
Brilliant, better than robbos :]
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His timing may have been a bit off, but what he said was correct. What's funny also is the fact that the media left out a few key words in his statement; "I respect Sir Alex Ferguson, he is a great manager." So Benitez was definitely not having a pop at Ferguson with "venom" (as Mr Ferguson put it), he was simply expressing his feelings on the subject; and many will agree with him on that.
When people say he is loosing the plot it makes me laugh. His statement was so controlled, with his pre-written notes, and he looked so calm; managing a small smile before he began.
Also his supposed fall-out with the American owners (such an original story with plenty of evidence behind it) could not be timed any better compared to Benitez's statement.
It was however, Ferguson who first showed signs of cracking early on in the season. Slamming Keith Hackett and questioning his contribution to the game; but nobody would dare accuse Ferguson of wrong doing on that occasion. Any other manager would have been severely punished.
Utd fans will obviously think Rafa has cracked, but Liverpool fans like myself know better.
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The only correct response to one of Sir Alex's verbal insuations is:
'What did Sir Alex say?' (journalist repeats)
'How old is Sir Alex?' (journalist gives Sir Alex's age)
'Ah, well, it's only to be expected then really.'
(sympathetic smile)
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"you get more interest from your average savings account than you do from Drogba these days".
- except when Rafa reads out a charge sheet listing Drogba's infinite series of interminable ignomies, (i.e., his endless diving and roughing up of opposition players, etc.), whereupon Drogba immediately plays his best game for years, puts one past Reina, then performs a spectacularly triumphalist victory slide on his knees right past Rafa, (I bet Scholari wishes Rafa'd start dissing his whole squad in the same way, right this moment!).
It's taken Rafa five years to get the hang of the Premiership, (if they give Scholari sufficent time he'll achieve this within another eighteen months), so maybe it'll take him another five years to learn when and when not to open his gob to achieve the effect he actually wants - and I'm a Liverpool fan!
Also, I don't think Sir Alex was really having a go at Rafa - I honestly think, in his own way, he was being sympathetic for what he perceived as a howl of pain from Rafa due to his gallstone condition - as he put it himself, there was so much "venom" in what Rafa said.
I hate it when Sir Alex has to go in for all that roughhousing business, but I hate it even more when people like Arsene and Rafa start trying all that rolling about in the gutter stuff, too - at least Sir Alex looks in his element, Rafa and particularly Arsene, (who's otherwise so classy), just end up looking silly.
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@usernamed606 (147)
Your post implies that everybody of a certain age must be suffering from dementia.
Hope your (grand)parents are proud of you.
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Good article, fergie has been fined more then any other manager this year, and lets face it every season its one of the top 4 managers moaning about the fixture list.
Yes it was a disadvantage for the first half of the season but thats over now and we are 5 points off the top with 2 games in hand and have the majority of games against the top 10 teams at home now.
What was it that made Benitez get so angry, surely cant be because he moaned about the fixtures and said liverpool would get nervous - thats nothing for fergie !!
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Why are all English always that biased?
Everytime I hear complains about Chelsea it is because of Drogba, Kalou, Malouda (which I agree with), Deco and Ballack (which I disagree). But no one mentioned Terry or Lampard. Lampard was as invesible as the rest of the midfield, and Terry's mistake allowed Vidic to score, not mentioning his sending off against Everton which might cost Chelsea 2 point (and don't dare to say it wasn't a sending off...you make yourself look like a fool).
Lampard clearly showed he cannot control a midfield...he scores goals yes...but unlike Deco and Bllack he shots from all angles.
So if the journalists and fans start looking at Terry and Lampard what they are, and how they play, rather then where they are from, then, and only then Chelsea might recover, and people would finally make normal comments.
The lst time I checked Lampard or Terry has nothing achieved on International Level...maybe they can ask Deco or Ballack how it feels to lead a country into a final.
Rant over
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Good post at number 88. However, I have to point out that having watched football myself over thirty years, and as a sad, ageing football fan I have a large collection of books on football stretching back to the 30's, I am forced to disagree with the idea that football, at least since the turn of the 20th C, has ever seen ref's decisions being accepted 'graciously' and without demure.
The reason is, is that despite the rubbish that is spouted these days, usually to justitfy the massive wages of the current crop of lazy overpaid 'superloungers' posing in the top flight (and in the FL) footballers have, since the pre WWI period at least, been paid a hell of a good wage.
As such, and unlike the rugby players et al that the behaviour of footballers is constantly compared to, the pressure to succeed on the field has always been sufficient to ensure that players are far more likely to 'chuck their dummies out of the pram' and question the referee than in other sports.
As such I have in my collection some glorious images of players surrounding the ref, from the 20's 30's 40's 50's etc.
The one difference that we see now is, and this is something that is both new and the big two (out of the big four who are all bad for it) are the worst culprits, is the ugly comments made about refs in terms of their competence which drags on in the press and is turned (far too often) into a lengthy witch hunt.
As another poster said, refs have always made mistakes, they are only human, but whereas once that was annoying but a fact of life and we all got on with it, now the scurrilous nature of the game sees to it that we don't.
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Using the format of 'Rafa' lets look at the facts. No I haven't prepared them on an A4 sheet of paper in advance. 1.Mr Rafa failed to realize that 95% of the Media (TV, Papers etc) are biased towards that English Institution known as Sir Fergie and Man U. His facts/observations were never going to generate the positive impact he would have hoped for. 2 Mr Rafa's Team with the exception of the odd Gerrard dive and high tackle play a fair game and do not harangue the ref or get into other dubious on field behavior. Man U players on the other hand constantly harangue snarl spit and are generally unsporting. Winners I hear you cry. No, not really. Taking the rules to the max and then some, I say. It is with this in mind that I think it would appear Mr Rafa sends his team out with a firm ?Respect the Referee? message. To his dismay he watches Mashcerano sent off for apparent back chat to the Referee. Mr Rafa watches the back chat and general unsporting behaviour, tantrums etc from Messers Rooney and Ronaldo, week in and week out. He sits and wonders and stews for nearly a year and thinks, what?s going on?
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I am still not convinced Robbo has got a good sense of humour. Or a talent for words.
His blog is hard work for him, it seems.
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This whole benitez - ferguson situation is being blown way out of proportion, all benitez has done has said what the whole country thinks, but is to scared to say publicly, and by doing so as been jumped upon by the media, you cant tell me even the up most utd fan doesnt agree with his comments, they get an awful lot of decision go their way, and when the likes of rio, ronney, and neville rant and rave at the ref they get just a talking too, then two minutes later their at it again, and oh look, same result, no punishment, just a slap on the wrist, and roodolf has been slagging refs off since he set out, how often have we seen fergie shoulder to shoulder with the ref heading down the tunnel whispering in his ear, all the time ! for me benitez has just put a spanner in the works, and this may just make referees and f.a. officials to keep a closer eye on how united players and staff a like react to a situation on the field of play, all benitez has done is pointed out the facts, how many pens do man utd concede, one in blue moon if your lucky, benitez didnt even mention the time fergie was shouting and balling at geoff shreeves live on sky, talk about disrespect, i like the way fergie manages though and this is why they will eventually win the league, fergie will push for a winner and risk getting caught at the back, this is where benitez lets him self down, you cant just grind out results 1-0 or 2-1 everyweek like chelsea used to do, you have to put the game beyond doubt and take a gamble, and his substiutions just baffle me at best, no one can read what he will do, the game will be crying out for a 20m player to weave some magic (keane) and we will see some 1m youngster be thrown in at the deepend ! poor management in my book, play your strongest team every game, players should not be tired after 60 games a season, their paid god knows how much to do it... if a proffessional footballer gets tired after being paid 100,000 a week then he should not be playing......
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Sir Fergies mind games are backed up by an army of Journalist's/Sports Pundits and spinless former L'pool players. His 20 years of bullying interviewers and the refusal to do BBC after match interviews show the character of the man. Mr Rafa is standing there with a sling shot in his hand, whilst being confronted my the USA army and I'm a Man U fan.
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very funny.
seeing as it was a well articulated statement by rafa benitez, it does seemed that he was determined to get one over sir alex ferguson. but the weekend result proved he might have cracked, and round one went to the scot.
http://wedontknowfootball.com/
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I don't think the mind games mattered on Saturday. The reason we dropped points was not because of Benitez jibes, it was because he fielded a ridiculously defensive line up.
When is he gonna give Babel a run in the team? And why, when Keane had finally got a couple of goals over xmas, does he prefer Kuyt up front?
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"54. At 2:44pm on 13 Jan 2009, BCChris wrote:
#11 - I hear that Chris, for entertainment value and sheer cinicism (Thats probably spelt wrong), Robbo comes tops. But it has to be said, he is closely follow by the Review of the week and Gavin Strachan blogs (Both writers take a good deal of effort to respond to comments). Tim Vickery has his moments now and again, depends how interested you are in SA Football."
=======
Yup. Just a pity about that Phool McNumty.
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It could be a football blog in VIZ
Verry funny keep it up :)
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Maybe if you just look closer Benitez is right. And he should say whatever he wants if it still gets a response from Fergie, obviously he has been thinking about what Rafa said.
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151
no bias but I think on this occasion Lampard and JT's work-rate was way above the rest of the numpties, hence m excluding them from the sell-off.
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154
You are a regular contributor who has yet to display any wit, wisdom or nous save for the easy opt-out of 'not funny'. As you yourself would bloody irritatingly put it, must try harder.
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That paragraph about Chelsea clearing out donkeys such as Hassungotta Kalou etc. was absolutely bloody hilarious.
Scarily true though. We have far too many players qualifying for the first eleven on reputation and wages alone.
Re MyWeeOpinion (151), I thought Lampard was Chelsea's best player on Sunday and has been one of Chelsea's best players this season. Agreed Terry wasn't and hasn't been at his best though.
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#134 -
"Picking on all the referees and the FA will not bend things your way in football, strange as it may seem."
-----Are you quoting Rafa here?
"Mourinho, if he were in Rafa's position, might have praised saf, calling him the grand old man of football....history."
-----Sigh, How the memory softens with time!
"That's how you play mind games, not tearfully blurting out a list you made up last night in the hotel. "
-----Yes, that sounds just like the Sun's interpretation of events as perceived through the mottled pane of the bathroom window!
#146 -
At last! Someone actually listened!
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SETANTA is an acronym not an ANAGRAM.
At 12:34pm on 13 Jan 2009, scottsewell wrote:
Fantastic blog yet again Robbo.
I loved the S.E.T.A.N.T.A anagram, absolutely brilliant.
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what a hell are u on Robbo? frankly I didn't expect u 2b so biased towards ferguson.
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im a liverpool fan myself and to be honest im always wondering at what point of the season we are going to mess it up,i just hope it isnt going to come down to the two games against stoke.
as for every1 trying to pretend that saf isnt treated different,or man u for that matter,it has been happening for years.just look at the old saying "old trafford injury time" where its USUALLY more than it would be for any1 else.........
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You get used to a lot of heated exchange, paranoia and bitterness in these debates but seriously, #57 is a genuine worry.
I mean here's someone who obviously took out a page of A4 paper and pre-prepared his statement which is fantasy as opposed to fact.
Oh! but I forgot, wasn't that what Benitez did too?!
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There's the real Robbo Robson and the ghost write Robbo Robson. This article is by the ghost Robbo.
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This is such a one-side article! I remain neutral in this argument but does anyone think that the media is clearly biased towards United and Ferguson? It?s getting very annoying.
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Those who claim Robbo's blogs are not funny have no sense of humour. There is nothing wrong with that but dont complain about something you dont understand (20 + 154)
Nr 20 even sounds a bit "disturbed" to use a word in vogue.
This is one of Robbo's best with some brilliant and original humour Congratulations. But you had good material thanks to Rafa and Chelski.
On Rafa: Gerrard's arrest could be the end of Liverpool's challenge and Rafa is trying to create a diversion. This explains the timing
On Chelski: They are as you indicate going the way of the "galacticos" at Real who under achieved towards the end of their sell by dates. Oversized reputations, egos and bank accounts and no more hunger. SAF's comments about the ageing Chelski appear prophetic now.
Even if the special one comes back in the summer he will need to rebuild "his" team.
On ManU fixtures: I bet if you ask SAF he got what he dreamed of for a fixture list: he expects his team to start slowly and it's usually a self-fulfilling prophecy, and he knows that the EPL is won in the second half of the season. I am a ManU fan but there is probably more in this coincidence than meets the eye.
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How can Rafa comment on Gill's role at the FA, when it was Rick Parry that was key in the negotiation of the world?s biggest TV rights deal for the Premiership????
You never heard the Liverpool management complaining when he was "Head of the FA Premier League". Rafa should just calm down and get his team playing well and look to win the title on the pitch rather than lose it with off the pitch tactics.
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Post 173
Rick Parry resigned as chief executive of the premier league to take his job at Liverpool, he never held both roles which is probably why Liverpool never complained
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34 dryewolfe
Well somebody has to turn up to boro matches or there would only be about 500 people in the ground!
If only the ref the had realised that it's hard to stand on the line, put your leg up behind you to hit the ball and for it not to be over the line, then you would have had an even worse last ten minutes.
Come on Robbo every other BBC blogger goes on and on about the top 4 (even if this one was funny!), lets here more about the other teams (such as the mighty Boro!)
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#151 MeWeeOpinion -
Im English and I totally agree with you, I wrote the same thing the other day on the Phil McNulty Blog, bout how I thought Terry was absolutely shocking and that for me he was at fault for 2 of the goals, I mean come on, he ducked out of a header only for Ronney to Stick it in the net?!
and didnt mention Lump'ard tho as I forgoot that he was even on the pitch!!!
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Franeire:
Rick Parry was appointed to the Liverpool board in 13th February 1992 and Chief Executive in July 1998. As the Premier League wasn't founded until 20th February 1992. A full 7 days after his appointment to the Liverpool board and The deal with BSkyB which Rick Parry helped negotiate wasn't brokered until 2005, when Rick Parry was still Chief Executive of Liverpool FC.
Therefore he was on both the Liverpool board and the Premier League board at the same time. Data obtained from Liverpool FC website and Premier League website.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with it, as it isn't uncommon. But Rafa should of been advised before making the statement he did. Pot, Kettle and Black springs to mind.
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you think you're funny, robbo, but you're not.
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If he's believed this for such a long time, Benitez chose the worst of times to mention it. A more discrete response would have been to merely state the end-of-season home advantage for United and then save the rest of the fair points for a better time.
I've long held the views Benitez voiced about Ferguson, and look forward to the sport improving as a whole when he's finally gone. Manipulating officials should absolutely not be a part of football.
If I've got to comment on the blog itself: I'll agree that a good amount of it was genuinely funny, but there were also a few cringe-points where it seemed Robbo was stretching just a little too far.
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155. At 11:22pm on 13 Jan 2009, parnchinator wrote:
can neither add nor remove anything....
for real man, if you're no Englishman you're no-good....
i was born 28 years ago, and am still waiting for one to win FIFA world player of the year...
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sorry "155. At 11:22pm on 13 Jan 2009, parnchinator wrote:"
I meant : "151. At 10:54pm on 13 Jan 2009, MeWeeOpinion wrote:"
don't blame me, it happens.... even Benitez meant to say something....
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If everybody is already thinking what Benitez said, why did it need saying? My own opinion is that it would give him more sway when negotiating the 'smaller details' of his contract. If Benitez doesn't get complete control over transfers, he will not sign the contract. The supporters will give him more backing because he dared to read a sheet of A4 to the media.
The guy is messed up, and Liverpool supporters should be very worried. If Benitez gets complete control over transfers, you can expect more like Dossena, Lucas, Pennant, Benayoun, Cavalieri, Leto, Josemi, Paletta, Gonzalez, etc. £171 Million spent, with a pretty poor return.
If Liverpool want to win the league, they need a new manager.
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#151 I agree. I thought JT was their worst player to be honest - he had a part in two of our goals, the first and the third. Robbo is no worse than the other tabloid hacks that go blind when John Terry is mentioned. On Sunday he was listless. At least Carvalho tried his best to foul our attackers.
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#182 said: "If everybody is already thinking what Benitez said, why did it need saying?"
Because those being influenced previously had no idea of how many others knew what was going on.
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i know this comment has already been butchered (45.) but i thought i may add to the defense of utd here.
1. ronaldos first goal was perfectly legitimate, the linesman was just woken up by rooney talking to giggs, and so the goal should have stood.
2. ronaldo should have had a penalty for that woeful challenge from carvalho, how he was booked when carvalho reacted is beyond anyones imagination (if anything bias towards chelsea), and how the decision then went against him has now formed the 8th wonder of the world.
3. ronaldos 2nd goal was legitimate, it was onside, at worst just level.
4. yes, rooney has a temper, we all know that but the most of his ranting was in regards to the disallowed goal which is to a certain extent justified, although i agree he should tame his tongue a bit.
5. belleti should have been straight redded for his wild and particulary awful challenges when he was as close to the ball as i am to the moon, and his sole purpose was to break legs.
6. if anything the ref was biased towards utd as he held up the play and never played advantage for utd when they were in particulary good positions. he was hardly our 12th player. more chelseas than anything.
Things have gone for utd in the past, but they also go against them, just like every other team in the premiership, so saying utd have any favour with the fa is ridiculous.
As for the article, I agree robbo that fergie does complain an awful lot about fixtures etc, but it never gets them changed and utd still manage to grind out the results and win things.
as for benetiz, i was going to say he can go and eat some humble pie, but saying as hes fat enough he could probably do without it.
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Rafa has not lost the plot and is not stupid. He came out with this and ahs anyone read anything about Gerrards upcoming court case since he said it? No. He is protecting his players and putting all the spotlight and pressure on himself. Mourinho did it numerous times and was hailed a genius. Rafa does it and he's gone mad!
Plus Rafa knows United are a far better team with a better squad. He cannot go out and buy more players as seemingly there is no money to do so to catch them up in that area. So he ahs to work with what he has and he knows United are better so he has to use every single thing available to him to try upset United and give his the team the chance to win the title. If that means looking foolish and taking on Fergie in mind games, then so be it. Rafa is trying to get under their skin as he knows something has to be done to give his team the upper hand against a superior opponent so he is trying this route - he did it with Valencia against Madrid and Barca and is trying it again. Probably won't work and he be left looking foolish but it's worth a try.
He is not an idiot and has not lost the plot - if only he could pick his best team, we may have an even better chance though!!!
Even though I am a Liverpool fan I cannot see past United sauntering to the league title this year and it being a one horse race with their nearest challengers atleast 10 points behind - NITEMARE!
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It is amazing that whenever has the 'audacity' to stand up to SAF it becomes a rant, rather than a measured debate, which is in keeping with a lot of Man Utd fans comments on this blog. Do I sense relief that they actually have something to bang on about now, something to believe in that Liverpool may be about the crack. I mean come on Liverpool have done more to lose the title race this season than they have to win it.
I do not believe that Rafa's comments were a rant more a measured response to a number of unwarranted comments by SAF. Personally I would prefer Rafa not to get involved, but he has and we should respect his view as we would respect the view of any other manager.
Things for Liverpool to do in Transfer window to win title;
1) Stop trading issues with SAF, leave him to fester in a corner.
2) Stop switching the team around, pick a team and stick with it.
3) Rocket up ass of team for losing at Stoke, as the performance was simply poor.
4) Place the following players out of loan with a view to selling on in summer;
Kuyt
Pennant
Agger
Babel
Degan
Dossena
5) Bring in Tevez and play him on right side, almost like a winger but with a remit to either get down the line and cross or cut inside for the box.
6) Bring in Valencia to be outright right hand winger
7) Bring in Michael Owen as a super-sub attacking forward
8) Bring in Philipp Lahm and John Heitinga to boost our defence.
9) Play Alonso more
10) Play more attacking football, against the so called lower teams, do not repeat disaster of Stoke.
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billbob you should probably keep babel, hes better than you think.
plus if tevez doesnt get a permanent deal at man utd (which is very unlikely) he would more likely be going to inter or madrid, not liverpool.
if madrid have interest in valencia, its more likely he'll go there, and i doubt rafa is gonna get owen back.
lahm and heitinga are quite unrealistic choices although are more realistic than ur previous stated choices.
also where fergie managed to subtly mention liverpools nerves (which do seem to be getting the better of them), benitez managed to waste his time preparing a rant, which backfired immensely and actually worked to utd's benefit :)
what benitez said was not a measured debate it was a string of unfactual, unjustified comments which could be interpreted as a rant.
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Funny blog. Just emailed the link to my mates.
I am a Man U fan.
The Ronaldo goal was onside. Nuff said.
I was (partially) gutted that we won 3-0 as I had the boys down for 2-0 in the betfred predictor league. I also had Evra to score first :-(
Have a look, I'm currently 7th ;-)
http://content.betfred.com/manupredictor/index.php?option=home
And I've heard a rumour that at Scolari press conferences, the reporters have a bet on what/when daft philosophical quotes will come out.......??
Very impressed with the Villa, nice to see someone else up the top. Hope they don't suffer from altitude sickness........
Chelsea? Proof yet again that money does NOT buy a team of champions.......
My prediction for the Premiership end of season:
1: Manchester United
2: Aston Villa
3: Liverpool
4: Chelsea
5: Arsenal
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BillBob...
I dont think Rafas comments were by any stretch of the imagination a rant. I just cant understand why he said what he said.
As for posters saying it needed saying, why exactly?
The press and punters have been saying for years that United get away with almost murder so Benitez has hardly come out with anything original. Plus some of his stuff was factually incorrect and embarresingly contradictory
If a simple comment from SAF in relation to pressure (in December) caused Rafa to spend so much time poreing over United what is he gonna be like come March/April when the pressure really is on?
The simple facts are that all the big 4 get dodgy decisions at home and all successful teams appear to benefit even more.
So what if SAF trys it on? Id much rather that than watch him sit back and take it. Now if the Refs/Fa whoever back down how is that SAFs fault?
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Ooo, they are cheeky these Man U fans... 'proof... that money does NOT buy a team of champions'.
Rio, Rooney, Carrick, Berba, Hargreaves, etc.
A bit of cash helps.
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agreed, a bit of cash does help. and spending it on the right players helps as well.
cash however did not buy scholes, giggs, beckham, butt, the nevilles etc
united produce quite a bit of quality from their own youth system.
also if it was any other team buying some of these players the cost would have been considerably lower. a bit like the attitude of most clubs that are selling players to man city - just add a few more million on because they'll pay it.
man city are splashing out millions on plenty of new players and they're 15th... its not just cash, its the manager and the team bonding and compatibility of particular players.
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andyd54 wrote
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also if it was any other team buying some of these players the cost would have been considerably lower. a bit like the attitude of most clubs that are selling players to man city - just add a few more million on because they'll pay it.
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So Chelsea have had to do the same .... everyone have complained over the years about Chelsea spending so much money, but most of it was because as soon as a selling club knows that its Chelsea/ Man C/ Man U the price goes up by a few million.
What people should be looking at is whether the player has or will fit into a team not how much they have paid ....
Also for my penniesworth, The EPL seems to be a league looked upon by players who are gradually coming towards the end of their careers as a way of earning plenty of cash before retiring!!! Ballack, Deco, Robinho are ones that spring to mind .... they didn't seem very interested in coming to the EPL when they were at their "peak"
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Mr Robson: Yes a bit of cash helps, but a big thank you to andyd54:
Quote: cash however did not buy scholes, giggs, beckham, butt, the nevilles etc
They have also show loyalty to the colours of Man U. Apart from Mr Beckham who I still respect and admire.
Ferguson has always spent wisely I think, and only when needed. Not forced by an owner with bottomless pockets to fill the trophy cabinet...... Most transfers work for Fergie, some don't.
Going back to the original reason for this blog tho:Benitez. Typical traits of a manager under pressure from the owners for results. Hicks/Gillet not exactly popular. A new stadium that may or may not be built. One decent trophy in how many years?
Yes money seems to be the route of evil (& sackings) in football these days. When Ferguson came to Man U, he was patient but after several years a few questions were asked and I believe (as legend has it) that he was one game away from being sacked at one point?? At least our American owners leave him to get on with it, because he does have that midas touch. One of the conditions of buying Man U was that he should stay at the helm? When the Glazers came to Man U I was dreading it. Apart from typical ticket price increases etc, they have left the "team" alone.
Will the same be said of whoever replaces him? Probably not.
And will someone tell Mark Hughes: No one wants to play for a team who will always be average and play in sky blue....no matter how golden the carrot.....
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Granted over the years ManUtd have had a very good youth policy and they still are producing good young players but if you look at the team on Sunday that was on the pitch the only two youth produced players were Scholes and Giggs wasn't it?
Rio, Rooney, Ronaldo, Berbatov, Van Der Sar, Anderson, Nani, Vidic, The two young Brazilians (names escape me) ... all brought over the years to provide a winning team.
I am not against ManUtd/ Chelsea/ Man C etc ..... just against the ammount of money that clubs think is acceptable to splash in order to win.
By the way I am a Crystal Palace Supporter and know that if you splash cash and don't succeed your club WILL suffer.
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163. At 00:22am on 14 Jan 2009, Robbo Robson wrote:
154
You are a regular contributor who has yet to display any wit, wisdom or nous save for the easy opt-out of 'not funny'. As you yourself would bloody irritatingly put it, must try harder.
-------------------------------------------------
Hi Robbo,
You sound irritated, I seem to get some sign of life out of you - great. My point to you in the past was:
Your blog does not have a natural flow to it. It sounds laboured, like you had to work hard for every single turn of phrase. Nothing really wrong with it, except that I am still not sure if you are a person with a good sense of humour or if you try a little too hard. Take it easy and relax Robbo.
Now to the point of me having to try harder: Wrong. It's your blog. You need to keep it interesting. That could include more entertaining responses to your peers.
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The media make this situation a :- who won the mind games Mr Rafa or Mr Fergie. The winner will be if Rooney, Ronaldo or any other Man u player is sent of for decent/moaning/badgering of the ref, between know and the end of the year. If that happens then the winner will be Footbal. Ha.
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Blaming the Ref is a sign that a manager wants to detract from the fact that his team didn't play well/ his tactics didn't work.
As i have said before a Ref only has a split second to make a decision, Managers/ TV Companies/MOTD have all day/ days/ weeks to analyse situations ....
And most of the time people still can't agree ... what hope has a ref/ linesman got?
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195 digispoonerta: I beg to differ on your comments
Gary Neville
Jonny Evans
Darren Fletcher
Ryan Giggs
John O'Shea
Paul Scholes
All named in the squad for the Chelsea game. ALL from the Manchester United Academy/youth squads.
Unfortunately because of other teams splashing the cash, we have had to as well. But wisely (mostly!).
An unfortunate situation brought on by ourselves, as we were kicking everyone all over the pitch in the 90's, and they had to buy big to beat us.......
And of course if you splash the cash and don't get the results, the club will suffer. So will the fans. Just look at Chelsea.....
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Aha, laugh out loud funny this week Robbo, your best yet. You are to Footie what The Twelfth Man is to cricket. Rock on!
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Good blog once again, Robbo.
Rafa told the anti-United folks what they wanted to hear so he doesn't actually need the proof he hasn't got. They'll blindly swallow it because it fits nicely into their belief system. It wasn't a bad attempt at 'mind games' really so good on him for having a go. It adds a bit of spice at least.
The grown ups know the conspiracy theories are rubbish but a handfull of deluded Scousers will love him for it. Right at contract talk time too ... hmm ...
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This plonka-stalker ?Thanks A lot BBC7? has taken a real shine to you Robbo! Something like 15 of his last 19 comments to the BBC (dating back to July 2008) have been negative attacks on you. He must have a really nice and interesting life.
Being German, allegedly, I think ?Thanks A lot BBC7? would perhaps appreciate some politically incorrect jabs at his ?homeland? in your next blog.
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Robinho at the end of his career? Eh? Isnt he 24?
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Maybe, Robbo, you've knocked over BBC7's pint in The Bluebell. Whether or not you have to work hard for an amusing turn of phrase is irrelevant: the important point is that you do produce humour - and a lot of it!
Your blog after Keegan arrived back at St James' Park was the funniest thing I've read in years. Long live those Laugh Out Loud moments.
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i thought football careers were always a bit short but i think robihno might just play on for a few more years.
as for some of the greats coming towards the end of their career coming to the EPL to make money?
van nistelrooy went to madrid, beckham to la galaxy.
i know my geography aint too good but those clubs would appear to be outside england...
if i had the time i could give you countless others, its up to the player where they want to finish their career and most arent orientated by cash (unless of course they are moving to chelsea).
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#199. marktranter:
Ok ... understand that ... but 3 of those guys are from a youth team of the 90's and the other three arn't exactly 1st team regulars!
My point being that ManUtd are not adverse to splashing the cash ... Chelsea are not the only ones and Man City are doing nothing new ....
When Mourinho did spend his cash he did it fairly wisely (he won 5 trophies in his time there) ... you could forgive him the Shevchenko farce ... but anyway, things are just getting out of hand.
I think that the rule about home grown players will only help clubs with finances and also in the long run will help the national team. Just look at Walcott, Abhonlahor, Hart, Luke Young etc....
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#205. andyd54
we could all list players to support our arguments but My point being that you would not have seen, Robinho/ Ballack/ Deco et al years ago because the cash was not as readily available then.
Robinho would not have come over if he wasn't being paid shed loads, Deco is on a good whack and Ballack won't exactly be on Peanuts
I did not say they were some of the greats, just players who wouldn't have come over without the incentive of dosh.
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You quote David Beckham, but he would not have gone to America without the £125m they paid him.....
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I find it very amusing that all the bbc comments on Benitez's remarks actually endorse what he says.
They all talk about Ferguson as though he is someone akin to the Mephisto with his skilful manpulation of opponents and the media and malign anyone who stands up to him.
Ferguson is and always has been a bully (how long is it since the BBC managed to get
an interview with him) whose remarks tend to be blunt ,derogatory and ill informed.
Any time Ferguson starts one of his campaigns it starts with comments about one of his rivals made by him and then repeated puppet style by United players at their press conferences and/or interviews with media falling into the trap of feeling that if they hear something often enough it must be true.
You can argue about what Benitez said iand the timing of his comments but despite what the media has said it was not a rant and if a lot of what he said rang true with ordinary fans and was vindicated by Howard Webb's refereeing performance on Sunday.
I would recommend that before you watch ManU's next game you with all of Benitez's comments in mind.
That said Liverpool won't win the title because Benitez is too cautious even if the FA stand up to Ferguson.
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Quoted Today:
Kaka's agent says he would not go to Manchester City purely for the money. "He would never do something like Robinho, who, just to earn more, contented himself with a solution that was not a winning one," said Diogo Kotscho. (Corriere dello Sport, 1200 GMT)
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How can the media be biased towards fergie,
He doesnt even speak to the BBC, also who do they have on MOTD, Hansen and Laurenson. Yep big fans of United there.
Radio 5 Live - Alan Green another United fan.
Sky Sports for the Cheslea game, Redknapp, McAllister and Carragher, all 3 biased towards United u reckon ?
Be real, the media love to knock fergie cos he keeps coming up with the goods. Everytime we dont win the league they all say he's lost it, he's to old, he should retire. But he keeps on coming back and wininng that league title again and again (along with most other stuff on offer)
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The last few emails have insinuated that United's ability to splash the cash may have helped United to buy the Premiership.
There are many and varied reasons why United have the cash in the first place.
Firstly, they have always ALWAYS had a massive fan base. Check out the 1979 SHOOT Annual for an article on club popularity and see that United were top by some distance ( Dave Sexton's soporific efforts notwithstanding ). With this comes massive crowds, and the ability to shift merchandise and ultimately cash.
This laid the foundation for the quantum leap made in the 1990s with the introduction of the Premiership and the TV money.
But Big Ron was wont to spalsh it about a bit so why no Championships?
The answer is the Dark Lord Ferguson.
Fergie's success is built on a massive base of hard work north of the Border and at Old Trafford. People forget about him driving about trying to drum up support when manager at St Mirren, running a pub in what spare time he had, the slow climb with Aberdeen to break the Old Firm monopoly. He did all of this without flippin great wodges of cash so he must have had some judgment.
That the United Board had the good sense to give him a chance when he had spent the infamous "£13m on assorted puddings" when the results were middling to poor has paid them back in spades. They also had the good sense to see that he was changing the structure of the club so that home grown talent could come through.
Fergie has bought some dross and we can name them easily, but the majority of his big money buys have gone on to do the business - and in many cases have been discarded when they are no longer doing so. Rio, Carrick and Rooney cost a lot of money but they have gradually been integrated into the squad and have become United legends. Fergie has also bought some gems for nowt - Irwin, Cantona and Schmeichel. That he hasn't managed to do this lately is more a function of the "extra noughts for United" mindset.
No-one is fooled into thinking that there is an endless flow of Salford lads coming through into the first team, but ( even if we do look at them play through our fingers from behind the sofa sometimes ) O'Shea, Fletcher and Brown, and now Evans have come through and have done a job for the club.
There has been some luck in all of this as the opportunity to make the really big money has come at a time when domestic and international success have arrived at United, but the above ( I hope ) shows that all of this is built on very solid foundations and not overnight.
Having said all of that, if the ( sounding like Doctor Evil and using finger quote marks ) "Glazers" do have trouble with their bankers then we're bu99ered.
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United have outspent everyone - thats just ridiculous saying htey havent - take chelsea out of it and nobody even gets close to Uniteeds expenditure. How many players have they bought in the plus 20m bracket - Liverpool, Arsenal and anybody else simply could not afford it so to beat Chelsea with the spending money stick and being a United fan is an absolute joke - typical of UNited fans however!
Ferdinand
Veron
Berbatov
Rooney
Nani n Anderson
RVN
Tevez (if signed)
Now they ahve signed two kids for 18m. No other teams can do this or do this because they cannot afford to - Man U can! (I know Chelsea can but you are saying they just buy the league). And City can now but haven't been able to up to last minute this summer so not relevant!
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Fair play to both managers, we need these precious moments to fire the clubs and the bosses up.
The Prem wouldn't be the best league in the world if it wasn't for all these outspoken mind tricks.
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From a United POV, Rafa can rant all he wants, he just looks like a fool. Yes we've had some lucky moments over the years but we've also had some stupid decisions given against us and I reckon it all evens out.
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How brilliant to see Robbo state "Up the Villa!" Couldn't agree more, though I fear the best they could do this season is finish in the top four.
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One of your better ones!
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219 Totally agree with what you have said. Given the debate of Mr Fergie v Mr Rafa (both fantastic managers) I believe that if you took the start of Mr Fergie?s career with Man U and you moved it to when Mr Rafa started in the Premiership. I believe that with the current pressures on instant success and manager turnover at an all time high. Mr Fergie would be out of a Job. The simple Mathematic equation of 4 years trophy less x League Mediocrity + Record Signing ? Get Fergie out from the supporters. Backs my Theory and Equals Rafa is the better manger. By the way I'm an Everton fan
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Robo, will they let you post a blog when you're in the fizzy pop league next year. According to the regulars you played pretty well on Saturday, if that's as good as you've got you'll be playing Charlton and Leeds shortly.
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The number of Liverpool draws is creeping up again this year and its against teams that we should be breaking down far more easily. Kuyt as lone striker, taking Riera off, not playing Keane and plenty more weird decisions will see us runners up if we're lucky. Ah well, theres always next year.
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Liverpool have a place in my heart! Keegan, Thompson, Sounness, Dalglish, Rush oh Rushy, Bruce Grababung and more recently, Fowler, Owen the list goes on and on!
But... This current Liverpool lot not only epitomise lacklustre in every way, but failure appears the norm. At the start of the season I thought the gods had decided to give us a break - steady i didn't mean break in boys! But things have gone bad to worse!
The captain is thinking about a transfer to the UFC and Ranta Benitez has left his marbles i the walls of his Spanish Villa. What has he gained from trying to abuse the most successful manager in the history of the game - nothing! Oh wait I am sorry, we got a pasting against Stoke!
Sorry for the rant, maybe it's rubbing off, or it's just my team is breaking my heart!!!
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